Union

Upon This Rock | Forever and Ever, Amen | February 26

Sermon by Jake Blair on February 26, 2023.

Scripture does not tell us how Peter’s life ended, but we are told in John 21 by Jesus the kind of death Peter would die. Somebody would stretch out his arms, and he would be crucified just like his Lord for preaching the gospel. In the end, Peter lived what he told us in 1 Peter 5. His last act was an act of humbling himself before the Lord. As he suffered and died, he cast his anxieties on the one he knew cared for him. He knew that crucifixion was the way Jesus conquered Satan, so he was okay with facing the same fate and even facing execution through a wooden cross. He knew he wasn’t the only one. Other friends, disciples, and, most importantly, his Lord had already walked that path. What a beautiful example for us to follow. What a solid foundation for us to build our lives.

Upon This Rock | The Bad Won’t Last Forever | February 19

Sermon by Jake Blair on February 19, 2023.

In light of 1 Peter 5:10, suffering does not have the final word. Nothing bad lasts forever if you are in Christ. So what does it look like to remember this and rehearse our hopes?

Upon This Rock | Know You Are Not Alone | February 12

Sermon by Adam Gibson on February 12, 2023.

The second half of 1 Peter 5:9 reminds us we are not alone in our suffering. While the devil wants to isolate us in our pain, the good news is we belong to a vast family of Christians throughout the world who have faced the same struggles and more.

Upon This Rock | Resist Him, Firm in Your Faith | February 5

Sermon by Adam Gibson on February 5, 2023.

In 1 Peter 5:9, the call for us to resist Satan and stand firm means that, in Christ, we are not helpless against Satan, addiction, long-term sin patterns, or against anything. So what does that look like practically?

Upon This Rock | Watch Out for the Lion | January 29

Sermon by Adam Gibson on January 29, 2023.

In 1 Peter 5:8, we’re given some sobering news: a powerful, spiritual enemy seeks to destroy you. If we knew just how deceptive this enemy was, how would we live differently than we are now?

Upon This Rock | Cast All Your Anxieties on Him | January 22

Sermon by Jake Blair on January 22, 2023.

The second command Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5:6-11 is to “cast your anxieties on Him.” The invitation here is to put all of our cares into perspective, to hand them off to someone capable of sustaining you, even when the cares feel overwhelming.

Upon This Rock | Humble Yourselves | January 15

Sermon by Adam Gibson on January 15, 2023.

Peter's first command in 1 Peter 5:6-11 is "humble yourselves." Humility is the posture of not seeking to sinfully elevate yourself over others. This passage says that if you go in the direction of humility, that's the path of blessing, flourishing, and wholeness.